Base-ball umpire s tally



(No Model.)

R. ROBYN.

BASE BALL UMPIRBS TALLY. No. 394,399 Patented Dec. 11 1888.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT ROBYN, OF HERMANN, MISSOURI.

BASE-BALL UMPIRES TALLY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,399, dated December 11, 1888.

Application filed August 8, 1888. gerial No. 282,199. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT ROBYN, of Hermann, in the county of Gasconade and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indicators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in game-indicators; and it consists of a wire which is provided with a ring or loop at or near its center, which serves to attach the indicator to the hand and to divide the buttons into two groups, and which has its ends bent so as to form stops to prevent the buttons from coming off of the wire, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to produce a game-indicator which is especially intended to be used in connection with a game of baseball, and which is to be worn or applied to the inner side of the hand, and upon which the number of strikes or balls, or both, called by an umpire can be counted or indicated.

The accompanying drawing represents a perspective of an indicator which embodies my invention applied to the hand.

A represents a wire of any suitable length, which has the loop or ring B formed at any convenient position between its two ends, and through which one of the fingers of the hand is to be passed. Preferably the end of the wire upon one side of this ring is made shorter than the end upon the other side, because it is necessary that there should be less buttons 0 upon that end which is to indicate strikes than upon the opposite end, which is to indicate balls. The wire is made to project beyond the ring or loop at both sides just far enough to hold the necessary buttons and allow them a suitable endwise movement; and thus the wire will be but little longer than the hand is wide. The ends of the wire are bent or doubled upon itself, as shown at H, so as to prevent the buttons from coming off.

The shorter end of the wire will preferably hold but three buttons, and these buttons will indicate the number of strikes, and the other and longer end of the wire will preferably have live buttons placed upon it, and these buttons will indicate the number of balls called by an umpire in a game of base-ball. The buttons, having an en dwise play, are moved outward upon the wire as far as the stops will allow, and then as balls or strikes are called one of the buttons is moved inward against the ring, and thus indicate the number of each which have been called. These buttons are moved by the thumb, and are held in any desired place by the fingers, as shown in the accompanying drawing.

As shown, the indicator consists of only the wire and the buttons which are placed thereon, and is to be worn upon the inner side of the hand. As the parts are simple and very strong and durable, they can be safely carried in one of the pockets without the slightest fear of being injured or broken in any way. Five buttons are here shown as placed upon one end and three upon the other, so as to adapt the indicator especially to the game of base-ball; but the number of buttons may be increased or diminished at will, according to the kind of tally that is to be kept. I do not limit myself in this respect, for this may be varied at will.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- An indicator consisting of a wire provided with a loop or ring for attachment to the hand, and for the purpose of dividing the buttons into two series, and which has its ends formed into stops, in combination with the buttons which are placed upon the ends of the wire, whereby the number of strikes or balls, or both, called by an umpire can be counted or indicated, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT ROBYN.

lVitnesses:

EUGENE F. RIPPSTEIN, WILHELM THonANX. 

